Piano fall board



April 1o, 1626. 6 1,665,653

s. BMTmR- PIANO FALL BOARD Filed OO. 26, 1925 1% fj j,

7i-forays'.

Patented Apr. l0, 1928.

STEPHEN BATTNER, 0F NORTH TONAWAN DA, WURLITZER MANUFACTURING COMPANY,

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PATENT OFFICE.

OF NORTH TONAWANDA, NEW YORK, A

PIANO FALL BOARD.

Application led October 26, 1925. Serial No. 64,771.

This invention relates to the means for equalizing the backward and forward movements of the fall-board of a iano at both ends by taking hold of it at either end.

In the constructions hitherto employed, the fall board descended more or less on its backward stroke, leaving a large and unsiffhtly gap between its upper edge and the adjacent top frame or panel of the piano.

One object of the present invention is to so construct the equalizing means and guide the fall board in such a manner, that its horizontal rear part is caused to travel in a straight horizontal path and remain level in all positions, avoiding the above objection.

A further object is the production of a simple and inexpensive mechanism which has the additional merit of compactness and which is especially applicable to player pianos.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a top lan view, partly in section, of a piano em odying the improvement, showing the rear member of the fallboard retracted and the front member folded. Figure 2 is a similar view showing said rear member projected and the front member unfolded. Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of said rear member, with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1. Figures 4 and 5 are cross sections on lines 4-4 and 5-5, Fig. l, respectively.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. f

l0 indicates the key-bed; 11 the keys; 12 the usual fixed bar or so-called bevel strip arranged above t-he keys; 13 the top frame of the piano; 14 the rear member of the fall-board; and 15 the front member' hinged to the rear member. This rear part or member is slidable horizontally upon fixed rails or guides 16 mounted upon the usual keyblocks 17 arranged on the inner sides of the cheeks 18. The rear part of the fall-board carries on its rear portion the customary upright wall or back strip 19, While the hinged front part has the usual front strip 20. These strips, in the folded position of the fall-board shown in Fig. 4, rise nearly to the lower edge of the top frame, leavin just enough clearance to permit the fall board to be freely shifted back and forth.

The backward movement of this rear member is limited by stop pins 21 extending inwardly from the cheeks or piano case, while its forward stroke is limited by stops 22, preferably in the form of vertical screws projecting from the underside of the rear fall-board member and arranged to enter forked centering-lugs or guides 23 secured to the upper side of the bevel strip 12.

The means for equalizing the sliding movement of the fall-board at both ends, comprise a pair of horizontally-sw' ing levers 24, each fulcrumed between its ends upon a block or bracket 25 projecting rearwardly from the bevel strip. The inner arms of these levers are pivoted together by a pin 26 to transmit the movementof one t0 the other, while their outer ends, which are 4preferably forked, embrace pins or screws 27 projecting from the underside of the rear member 14. The pivot pin 26 is secured to one of the levers and passes through a longitudinal slot 26a in the other.

By this construction and arrangement of parts, the rear part of the fall board with the hinged member 15 carried by it, is bodily slid backward or forward equally throughout its length by seizing either end of the board, the connected equalizing levers producing this uniform movement without restraint and very little friction.

As the fall board slides horizontally in a straight rectilinear path, the comparativel small space between its upright back strip 19 and the vertical front strip 20, when the board is folded, is maintained in the rear as well as the front position of the board, presenting a sightly appearance of these parts in all positions thereof.

This sliding movement of the fall board combined with the equalizing mechanism herein shown, also provides a compact st-ructure, which affords the advantage of enabling the depth of the piano case to be made about an inch less than do the devices heretofore in use, especially in player pianos.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a piano, the combination of a keyboard, guides at opposite ends of the keyboard and a longitudinal strip fixed above it, of a fall-board slidable on said guides,

g a pair of horizontally-swinging equalizing levers extending lengthwise of the fallboard and fulcrumed on said strip, said le- NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB TO THE RUDOLPH vers being pivoted together at their` innei` ends and having their outer ends pivoteliy connected to opposite ends of the fail-board.

2. n 2i piano, the combination of the keyboard, guides at opposite ends of the keyboard and it longitudinali strip fixed above it7 of a fidi-board siidzihie on said guides, L pair of horizontally-swinging equaiizing levers extending lengthwise of the' failboard and each uleiunied between its ends on seid 10 strip, said levers being pivoted together at thenI inner ends and having their outei ends pivoted to opposite ends of the fail-hoard, and oiked centering ings mounted on said stripa the fedi-board carrying stops aii'anged 15 to enter said lugs.

STEPHEN BATTNER. 

